Pelargonium plant named ‘PEQZ0099’

ABSTRACT

A new Pelargonium plant named ‘PEQZ0099’ particularly distinguished by light orange red colored inflorescences that fade to bright pink with large semi-double round florets, held above medium green foliage, on a vigorous semi-spreading plant.

Latin name of the genus and species of the plant claimed: Pelargonium interspecific.

Varietal denomination: ‘PEQZ0099’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new Pelargonium, botanically known as Pelargonium interspecific, and hereinafter referred to by the variety name ‘PEQZ0099’.

‘PEQZ0099’ is a product of a planned breeding program. The new cultivar ‘PEQZ0099’ has light orange red colored inflorescences that can fade to bright pink with large semi-double round florets, held above medium green foliage, on a vigorous semi-spreading plant.

‘PEQZ0099’ originates from a hybridization in a controlled breeding program made in July 2015 in a greenhouse in Gilroy, Calif. The female parent was an unpatented plant of P. x interspecific parentage identified as ‘11578-1’ with less petals per floret and more rose colored florets when compared to ‘PEQZ0099’.

The male parent of ‘PEQZ0099’ was a patented plant of P. x interspecific parentage, identified as ‘PEQZ0033’ (disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 29,484) with a larger and more upright plant habit and larger florets when compared to ‘PEQZ0099’. The resultant seed was sown in January 2016.

‘PEQZ0099’ was selected as one flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross in April 2016 in a greenhouse in Gilroy, Calif.

The first act of asexual reproduction of ‘PEQZ0099’ was accomplished when vegetative cuttings were propagated from the initial selection in June 2016 in a greenhouse in Gilroy, Calif.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF INVENTION

Horticultural examination of plants grown from cuttings of the plant initiated in June 2016 in Gilroy, Calif. and continuing thereafter, has demonstrated that the combination of characteristics as herein disclosed for ‘PEQZ0099’ are firmly fixed and are retained through successive generations of asexual reproduction.

‘PEQZ0099’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary significantly with variations in environment such as temperature, light intensity, and day length.

A Plant Breeder's Right for this cultivar has not yet been applied for. ‘PEQZ0099’ has not been made publicly available prior to the effective filing date of this application, notwithstanding any disclosure that may have been made less than one year prior to the effective filing date of this application by the inventor or another who obtained ‘PEQZ0099’ directly from the inventor.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the basic characteristics of the new variety. The combination of these characteristics distinguishes this Pelargonium as a new and distinct variety.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographic drawings show typical flower and foliage characteristics of ‘PEQZ0099’ with colors being as true as possible with an illustration of this type.

The photographic drawings show in FIG. 1 , one flowering plants of the new variety and in FIG. 2 , a close-up of an inflorescence.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The plant descriptions and measurements were taken in Gilroy, Calif. in September 2022 under natural light. The plant was approximately 24 weeks old and was grown in a 30 cm pot in a greenhouse. The photographs were taken in June 2022.

Color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart (R.H.S.) 2001.

TABLE 1 DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE NEW VARIETY ‘PEQZ0099’ AND A MOST SIMILAR VARIETY ‘PEQZ0079’ (U.S. Plant ‘PEQZ0099’ Pat. No. 33,078) Leaf color: Medium green Dark green Pollen color: Orange, RHS N167A Dark orange, RHS N169B Peduncle color: Green, RHS 144A Brown purple, RHS 187A

-   Plant:     -   -   Form, growth and habit.—Semi-spreading and semi-upright             growth habit.         -   Plant height.—26-30 cm.         -   Plant height (inflorescence included).—32-34 cm.         -   Plant width.—48-54 cm. -   Roots:     -   -   Number of days to initiate roots.—15-18 days at about 22             degrees C.         -   Number of days to produce a rooted cutting.—21-23 days at 22             degrees C.         -   Type.—Fine, fibrous, free branching.         -   Color.—RHS N155B but whiter. -   Foliage:     -   -   Variegation.—Absent.         -   Immature leaf, color upper surface.—Closest to RHS 137A.         -   Immature leaf, lower surface.—Closest to RHS 138B.         -   Mature leaf, color upper surface.—Closest to RHS 137B.         -   Mature leaf, color lower surface.—Closest to RHS 138B.         -   Length.—5.5-6.5 cm.         -   Width.—7.5-9 cm.         -   Shape.—Cordate.         -   Base shape.—Cordate.         -   Sinus of mature leaf.—Variable, very narrow to narrow on             young mature leaf, more wide on older.         -   Leaf base openness.—Variable, some leaves almost closed,             some leaves open or slightly open.         -   Apex shape.—Acute.         -   Margin.—Slightly dentate.         -   Texture upper side.—Hirsute.         -   Texture lower side.—Hirsute.         -   Leaf zonation color.—None.         -   Color of veins, upper surface.—RHS 137A, largely indistinct.         -   Color of veins, lower surface.—RHS 144B, becoming             indistinct.         -   Pattern of veining.—Palmate.         -   Petiole color.—RHS 143B, slightly mottled close to RHS 176C.         -   Petiole length.—5-10 cm.         -   Diameter of petiole.—0.2 cm.         -   Texture.—Pilose, hirsute, glandular hairs. -   Stem:     -   -   Quantity of branches.—5-9.         -   Color of stem.—Close to RHS 143B.         -   Anthocyanin coloration of stem.—No signs of anthocyanin.         -   Length of stem.—15-28 cm.         -   Diameter.—0.5-1 cm.         -   Length of internodes.—1-4 cm.         -   Texture.—Sparsely hirsute, pilose, glandular hairs. -   Peduncle:     -   -   Color of peduncle.—RHS 144A.         -   Length of peduncle.—12-18 cm.         -   Peduncle diameter.—0.3-0.5 cm.         -   Texture.—Hirsute, glandular hairs.         -   Anthocyanin coloration of peduncle.—No anthocyanin             coloration visible in peduncle. -   Pedicel:     -   -   Color of pedicel.—Basal part RHS 143B.         -   Length of pedicel.—2.5-3.5 cm.         -   Diameter of pedicel.—0.15-0.2 cm.         -   Texture.—Sparsely pilose, glandular hairs.         -   Pedicel swelling.—Swelling was not observed. -   Bud (just before opening):     -   -   Color.—RHS 143A.         -   Length.—1.2-1.4 cm.         -   Width.—0.6-0.7 cm.         -   Shape.—Elliptical. -   Inflorescence:     -   -   Type.—Umbel; semi-spherical or nearly semi-spherical.         -   Lastingness of individual flowers.—7-9 days at 18° C.             temperature.         -   Number of inflorescences per plant.—6-12, with 5-12 immature             umbels in various stages.         -   Average number of flowers per inflorescence.—20.5.         -   Fragrance.—None.         -   Umbel diameter.—8-11 cm.         -   Umbel depth.—5-7 cm. -   Corolla:     -   -   Form.—Semi-double.         -   Number of petals.—7-9.         -   Diameter of flower.—4-5.5 cm.         -   Depth of flower.—1.5-2 cm.         -   Side view shape.—Concave.         -   Color upper petals, upper surface.—RHS 41C, fading to RHS             57A at the upper half fading and to RHS 62D at the lower             half.         -   Color upper petals, lower surface.—Close to RHS 62A.         -   Length of upper petals.—1.5-2.2 cm.         -   Width of upper petals.—2.1-2.6 cm.         -   Color lower petals, upper surface.—RHS 41C fading to RHS             57A.         -   Color lower petals, lower surface.—Close to RHS 62A.         -   Markings on upper petals.—Stripes at base, close RHS 39A at             lighter backdrop RHS 39C.         -   Markings on lower petals.—Stripes, close to RHS 39A.         -   Length of lower petals.—2.4-2.7 cm.         -   Width of lower petals.—1.8-2.2 cm, petaloids variably             smaller and with variable shape.         -   Petal shape.—Obovate to spathulate.         -   Apex shape.—Rounded.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Base.—Attenuate.         -   Petal texture.—Papillose on both surfaces. -   Calyx:     -   -   Number of sepals.—5.         -   Color of sepals, upper surface.—RHS 144C.         -   Length of sepals.—1-1.4 cm.         -   Width of sepals.—0.2-0.4 cm.         -   Sepal shape.—Lanceolate to linear.         -   Apex shape.—Acute.         -   Margins.—Mostly fused.         -   Texture, upper surface.—Glabrous.         -   Lower surface.—Glandular hairs, hirsute.         -   Sepal flexing.—Mostly unflexed sepals. The narrowest sepals             might flex moderately. -   Reproductive organs: -   Gynoecium:     -   -   Pistil.—RHS 145A.         -   Length.—0.8-0.9 cm.         -   Style color.—RHS 145A.         -   Style length.—0.4-0.5 cm.         -   Stigma color.—RHS 49A.         -   Ovary color.—RHS 145A.         -   Ovary length.—0.4-0.5 cm.         -   Ovary diameter.—0.2 cm. -   Androecium:     -   -   Number of stamens.—6-9 with 1-5 staminoids.         -   Color of filaments.—RHS N155A with RHS 72D at the tips.         -   Length filaments.—0.5-0.6 cm.         -   Anther color.—RHS 171B.         -   Length of anthers.—0.3 cm.         -   Color of pollen.—RHS N167A.         -   Pollen amount.—Scarce.         -   Fertility/seed set.—Has not been determined to date.         -   Disease/pest resistance.—Has not been determined to date. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Pelargonium plant named ‘PEQZ0099’ substantially as illustrated and described herein. 